Kyle Hamilton was voted the best safety in the NFL, but he thinks his new teammate Malaki Starks could end up being even better.
Hamilton spoke about his ultra-talented fellow Baltimore Ravens safety, who he said is ahead of where he was when he came out of Notre Dame before the 2022 NFL season.
The Ravens selected Starks out of the University of Georgia with the 27th overall pick in this year’s draft.
What Did Kyle Hamilton Say About Malaki Starks?
Hamilton was deemed the best safety in the NFL according to ESPN’s top-10 list judged by executives, scouts and coaches.
“All-around best player: Size instincts, production, blitz ability,” an NFL personnel director told Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.
Still, Hamilton did not hold back on the praise for Starks.
“Playing next to Malaki, he’s super talented. I honestly think he’s miles ahead of where I was at that point in my NFL career,” said Hamilton. “Once it all clicks for him, he’s going to be one of the best in the league.”
Hamilton has seen how Starks has been willing to learn and unintimidated at asking questions so he can learn.
“I think he knows the playbook more than I did. He’s confident out there,” Hamilton said, according to WJZ News. “He’s talking, and he’s just so willing to learn and be a sponge. It’s very admirable for somebody his age.”
In turn, Starks has expressed his appreciation for Hamilton.
“You think you know football until you get around people who know football, then you realize you don’t know that much about football,” Starks said. “Being able to learn from [Hamilton], I think, has been huge.”
Starks also has spectacular talent to overcome some of the things he doesn’t know. Under defensive genius Kirby Smart at Georgia, Starks led the Bulldogs defense in tackles (77) in 2024 and had 17 passes defended and six interceptions in his career at Georgia while winning the national championship in 2022.
The Ravens have seen those abilities on display already, even though they are still less than a week into 2025 practices.
“So far, he is playing at a really high level,” Ravens coach John Harbaugh said, according to WJZ. “He has passed every test, but there are more tests to come.”
What Has Malaki Starks Said About Playing In the NFL?
Starks is likely to step right in and be a starter for one of the top defenses in the NFL — and among one of the best units, Baltimore’s secondary, in the league.
Aside from Hamilton and Starks, the Ravens secondary also features Marlon Humphrey, a two-time All-Pro who had six interceptions and a touchdown last season, and former Green Bay Packers cornerback Jaire Alexander, who is already wowing the Ravens at camp.
So even though he is talented enough — and is hearing the praise coming from around the Ravens facility — Starks is staying grounded.
“There’s a lot of expectations,” Starks said. “There’s a lot of standards that come with that, but I’ve got to prove myself worthy of it and earn the respect of my teammates and go out there day in and day out and give it my best.”
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